SOLUTION: A plasma TV company determines that its total profit on the production and sale of x TVs is given by: P (x) = -x2 + 812x - 9600 Will the graph of this function open up or down?

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Question 348222: A plasma TV company determines that its total profit on the production and sale of x TVs is given by: P (x) = -x2 + 812x - 9600 Will the graph of this function open up or down? How can you tell by looking at the equation?
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Look at the squared term:
  • x%5E2 with a positive coefficient: Opens upward.
  • x%5E2 with a negative coefficient: Opens downward.
  • y%5E2 with a positive coefficient: Opens to the right.
  • y%5E2 with a negative coefficient: Opens to the left.

Your equation has x%5E2 with a negative coefficient (-1) so it opens downward.